Zack Kassian sat out practice on Saturday with back spasms. Kassian suffered the flareup a couple of weeks ago in the AHL and has not been right since. There has been talk that Kassian could be on the right side for every line, from the first with the Sedin twins to the fourth. Stay tuned and consider him day-to-day. He is a high risk fantasy pick at this time as he is more likely to see bottom six minutes rather than top-six minutes.

Before he's pencilled in anywhere from the first to fourth line for the Vancouver Canucks, 21-year-old winger Zack Kassian has to get over a bothersome back that flared up two weeks ago while playing in the AHL. Kassian injured a facet joint, which is any one of four projections that link one vertebra of the spine to an adjacent vertebra. Kassian injured a facet joint, which is any one of four projections that link one vertebra of the spine to an adjacent vertebra. "I've had some spasms, but nothing major," said Kassian, who has no history of back ailments. "It just takes a little time to heal. Today, I felt good on the ice and it's day by day and I'm on track to be good for training camp. I don't know how I hurt it. I woke up and it was tight and I had another little issue. Skating and playing games probably didn't help, but we've got it solved."

Zack Kassian tallied two assists in Chicago's 3-2 triumph over Lake Erie on Saturday night. Kassian's six goals, eight assists and 55 penalty minutes in the AHL give a glimpse of the potential fantasy appeal of the Canucks forward. Chris Tanev also had a helper in the win.

Chicago Wolves coach Scott Arniel sent a stern message to Zack Kassian and Jordan Schroeder on Saturday when he made them both healthy scratches in a 3-1 win over Peoria. Kassian and Schroeder are tied for second on the team in scoring with 12 points this season, Schroeder leads the club with seven goals. "I've said all along that I'll give you the opportunity and it's what you do with it," Arniel said. "If you're in the lineup I expect you to be at the top of your game. If you're not, work hard to get in the next time you get the opportunity." Kassian has amassed 51 penalty minutes in 18 games this season and understands that he needs to limit the "stupid" ones. He plans to work hard at practice this week to hopefully return to the lineup on Friday against Grand Rapids.

Zack Kassian recorded a goal and an assist for the Chicago Wolves in their loss to Milwaukee Saturday night in AHL action. Kassian now has four points in his last three games. Before the streak, Kassian was held pointless in his previous four games. In what has been a streaky season in the point totals, Kassian has 11 points in 16 games.

Zack Kassian racked up 12 penalty minutes in the Chicago Wolves' 3-2 loss to Peoria Saturday. Kassian was assessed a misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second period of the game and has now recorded 36 PIM and seven points in 13 games played. He'll be a valuable fantasy asset in leagues that reward PIM once the NHL season gets going.

Zack Kassian has been given a one-game suspension by the AHL for his "actions" during a game at Charlotte on Nov. 6. The AHL didn't elaborate on the infraction but Paul LaTour, who covers the Chicago Wolves for the Chicago Tribune, figures he earned the ban for throwing his stick and hitting an off-ice official in the penalty box. Kassian will miss Friday's game in Milwaukee because of the suspension.

Zack Kassian was a dominant power forward this weekend in a pair of games against Abbotsford. Kassian was in nearby Abbotsford as he is now playing for the Canucks AHL farm team, the Chicago Wolves. He had a goal and a fight in each game. He spent the summer getting in better physical shape and it seems to be working. "We actually brought him back to Vancouver to train with the (Sedin) twins for a week," Canucks GM Mike Gillis said. "We put him in Portland at the Nike high performance centre for 10 days, we put him in Winnipeg to train with (skills coach) Glenn Carnegie at his facility for three weeks and he was great every step of the way. He worked really hard and is getting results because of it." Look for Kassian to make the jump to the big club when the NHL eventually resumes.

Zack Kassian opened the scoring and found the back of the net again in the shootout during the Chicago Wolves' 3-2 win over the Abbotsford Heat on Friday night in WHL action. Kassian now has three goals in his past two games with the Wolves. He also got scrapped with Joe Piskula in the third period, raising his PIM total to 11 in just four games in the WHL season.

Vancouver Canucks prospect Zack Kassian scored one of the Chicago Wolves' goals in a 2-1 victory against the Peoria Rivermen. Kassian also had four PIM in the game, showing the kind of power forward-edge that prompted the Canucks to take a risk by dealing him for Cody Hodgson. On the other side, Jaden Schwartz collected an assist while Jake Allen to the loss for the Rivermen.